Assighob to the westistgeotctse a



' H. BROWN,

CAR AND ELECRIQCGUPUNG,-

FPLICATION FILED MAR. H, 19M.

T. R. BROWN.

. CAR AND mmm@ caummc..

APPLICATION FLED MAB. il, 1914.. 4

' f v Pmzente Aug. l5, 1816.

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.WITNESSES INVENT'OFI r T. R. Blew/VN. CAR AND ELECTRIC CUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED MAH. 1l. 15H4.'

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WBTNEZSSES:

THOMAS R. BROWN, F SPAKILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE WESTINGHOUSE lrlltj :BRAKE CMPANY, 0F WLMERDING, PENNSYLVANI, A CORIPURATIGN F PENN? SYLVANA;

CAR. AND ELECTRC CQUFLNG.'

man@

incassa.

.l Specification of Letters lPatent.

lPatented Aug. t5, 1911.6.

Application filed March 11, 191i. Serial No. 823,970.r4

train line circuits between cars or other ve! hicles of a train. n

My invention relates more particularly to electric train line couplings of the type having a plurality of lined contacts connected to train line circuits, a movable contact carrier having corresponding contacts, and means for projecting the contact carrier to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpart' couplings.

One object of my ,invention is to provide manually operated means for controlling an electric train line coupling of the above type.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for locking the contact carrier in its projected position. j

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following more detailed description of the invention.

ln the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic section of a pair of car couplers locked together and a pair of electric train line couplings in electrical connection, certain portions being broken away, and showing my invention embodied therein; Fig. 2 a plan view of an electric'train liney coupling with the top cover plate removed; Fig. 3 a sectional view uthereof on the line DA-D of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 a sectional View on the line A-A of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 a sectional view on the'line lB-B of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 a sectional View on the line Ee-E of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 a part sectional view on the line C-C of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 a detail sectional view of the lever mechanism for actuating the contact carrier; Fig. 9 a detail vertical sectional view of one of the shutters; Fig. 10 a plan View of one of the shutters, partly broken away; Fig..l1 a side elevation of a car coupler with an electric train line coupling attached thereto; and Fig. 12 a detail sectional view showing the trigger -or carrier locking mechanism.

As shown in the drawings, the electric train coupling comprisesa casing 1 secured to the under side of a car coupler headed, so that when adjacent-car couplers are/coupled together, the ends of the counterpart train line coupling heads meet.

Within the casing near the meeting end are mounted a plurality of fixed contact ingers 3 arranged horizontally., either inv one row, or, as shown in the drawing, in two opposits rows and each adapted to be connected to a wire of a train line circuit.

A longitudinally movable slide or contact carrier l is mounted Within the casing and is provided with electrically connected contact bars 5 and 6 adapted when the carrier l is projected into a counterpart coupling head to electrically connect corresponding fixed contacts 3 and thereby complete the several train' line circuits of the train.

For operating the Contact carrier f1, a fluid pressure operated piston 7 may be employed, said piston being contained in a cylinder 8 and having pivoted connection with a linlr 9,

the outer end of which is pivoted to a lever 10. One end of the lever is mounted on a ixed pivot pin 11 and the opposite end carries a roller 12 adapted to engage a project` ing lug 13 forming part of the slide 4.

In order to position and guide the contact carrier el in its longitudinal movement, guide rods 14 are provided, as shown particularly in Figs-2 and 4, and mounted on each rod are a pair of follower sleeves 15, the outer ends or' which form abutments for a coil spring 17 surrounding the rod 14:, and the proximate ends of which are flanged.

The contact carrier is provided on opposite sides with a pair of laterally projecting forks 16 adapted to slidelon the sleeves 15, and the parts are assembled by drawing the sleeves together againtlthe resistance of the spring 17 and then passing the sleeves at one end through the corresponding Jforks, the sleeves at the opposite end being then rcleased, so that; the spring pressure acts to project the sleeves through the other forks. The forks will then bear against the flanges i ot the sleeves 15, so that movement of the carrier 4: in either direction will shift one pair of the follower sleeves and thereby compress the springs 17,v

Vertical grooves 18 are provided in the end Walls of the casing 1 into which the ends -of the rods le are inserted after assembling tit titi

the parts of the contact carrier, the rods resting at the bottom ot' the grooves 1S, as shown in Fig. 4, to thereby position tlheconact carrier in the casing.

In oider to lock the cout-act carrier t in its projected position a pivotally mounted trigger 1f) may be employed. having a horizontally extending arm, the -end oll which is adapted to abut against a lug 2() carried at the rear of" the carrier 4. The trigger also has a vertically extending arm which -is adapted to work in a slot eivtending through a longitudinally movable rod 21 adapted to be operated by a piston 22 when fluid under pressure is admitted to the chamber'23 at one side of the piston and said piston may also carry af tappet rod 24 which can be pressed manually to operate the piston and thereby the rod`21.

In order to cflect the retraction of the contact carrier from its projected position :i pipe is connected to chamber 23 and leads t'o a manually controlled valve device, represented in the drawings as a plugl cock 2o. One ot these controlling valves is preferably provided tor each coupling at each end ot' the car, in position t'or convenient manipulation by the operator.

The plug cock 26 contains a valve 27 having connected ports 28, 2f), and 30 adapted in the normal position of the valve to connect pipe 25 and pipe 81 leading to cylinder 8 with an exhaust port 32. The valve 27 is also provided with a cavity 33 tor establishing)communication from a fluid pressure supply pipe 34. topipe 31 in one position and to pipe 25 in another position.

According to my invention, the projected farrier may be retracted on either car yb v manipulation otl either one ofl the adjacent controlling cocks, and for this purpose, a tappet 35 is provided in a position to be engaged by a corresponding tappet of a counterpart coupling. aperture 3G for establishing communication from a chamber 37 to a correspondingchamber et' the counterpart coupling and said chamber communicates through a passage 38 with chamber 2f The tappet 35 is yieldingly pressed outwardly by a spring 2i!) which also acts on a 'alve 40 controlling communication from chamber 37 through pipe t1 to cylinder '8. Said valve it() luis a cylindrical guide body fitting within a` chamber in the pistoir and in order to insure free commiinication from chamber 37 to the aperture 3G, said valve is made hollow with a series ot ports 42 connecting the' interior chamber with the exterior chainloer 37. j

In operation. the normal position ot' the parts being as showii in Fig. t3 ot' the drawings. after the counterpart'couplings are brought into engagement, the electric connection of the train line circuits 1s effected The tappet 35 has lan by manipulating either one of the operating handles ot' the adjacent controlling valves 2G, the handle being turned trom the normal position, shown in Fig. 1. to the position in which cavity 33 connects pipes 34 .and 3.1. Fluid under j'n'essure is then supplied to the corresponding cylinder 8 and the piston 7 is thereby moved outwardly, as

shown at the left side. ot' Fig. 1. The move- .nieiit otl piston 7 shifts the lever 10 so that the"contact carrier, so that: the corresponding train line circuits are. thereby closed. During the outward movement ottheI projected contact carrier., the lug 2t) passes over and depresses the cud of the trigger It), but as soon as the trigger clears the lug, the same is returned to its normal position by the action of" spring 43. so that the outer end of the trigger then acts as a stop or lock to prevent return movement of the contact carrier. By providing this positive lock, it becomes unnecessary to maintain fluid pressure in the cylinder 8 in order to hold the contact cariier in its projected position, and conscquently upon etfecting the electric coupling connection between adjacent. cars, the controlling valve Q7 may be moved back to normal position in which the cylinder 8 is `vented to the atmosphere.

When the electric couplings are in engagement, the inward movement of the tappet 35 by contact with the tappet of thel counterpart coupling head compresses the spring 39 and the spring pressure thus oxcrted on the valve 4() is sufiicient to hold the same to its scat against the fluid jn'essuro which may be in the cylinder 8 and the pipe 41. It will thus be seen that in coupling up, fluid under pressure docs not flow from the coupling ot th-e car on which the controlling valve 2G is manipulated, and conscquently. thc vpiston 7 is actuated to project the Acontact carrier of only one of'l the countcrpa rt couplings.

ll'hci'o the electric train line coupling is applied to a car coupling ot' the type having a lateral and longitudinal movement in the act ot' coupling, the engaging faces of the adjacent tappets 35 will have a corresponding lateral movement on cach other and this tends to maintain the faces clean so as to insure a reasonably tight joint therebetwecu.

ln order to effect the release ot' thc. clcetric coupling, either one of the adjacent cocks 2G is moved to the position in which the cavity 33 connects the pipe S-twith the. pipe 25. Fluid under pressure is then Supliti Lisanne plied to the chamber 23 and thence flows through the passage 38 to chamber 37 and through the ports 452 and the aperture'36 to the registering aperture 36 of the tappet 35 on the counterpart coupling. -Fluid consequently Hows into chamber 37 of the counterpart coupling and thence through passage 38 to chamber 23 atone side of piston 22. lt will thus be seen that both pistons 22 of the connected couplings are acted upon by luid pressure supplied upon manipulation of one of the controlling cocks 26 and consequently both pistons are yshifted outwardly. The traverse of the piston, 22, is very short, being lonly sufficient todisengage the trip lever', 19 from the lug, 20, and at its outer or rearmost position, it engages a fixed stop or shoulder on the casing. During this movement, the valve, 55, remains seated.

@n the coupling which has its contact carrier projected, the trigger 19 will thus be tripped, so thatV the retraction of the carrier is effected `by the action of the springs 17. ln this movement, it will be noted that the mi' action is facilitated by'the expansive movement of the springs 17 on both the counterpart couplings, since said springs, as hereinbefore stated, are compressed by the movement of the contact carrier in either direc- -f tion from the normal position and consequently the springs of the projected carrier as well as those of the retracted carrier, when in coupled position, are under comf pression in a direction to aid 1n moving both carriers back to normal release position.

Another feature of my inventionfrelates to providingmeans for edecting the release of the car coupler upon movement of the contact carrier to release position and in' order to illustrate this feature of the invention, a pair of connected car and pipe couplers of the tight lock type are shown in lig. 1 of the drawings,`each comprising a main casting ist having a hoolr shaped projection Zl5 provided with a vertical plane surface yinclined at an angle to the line of draft and adapted to engage and interlock with a corresponding surface on a projection of a counterpart coupler by a relative lateral movement when the couplers come together in the act of coupling.

Each coupler is provided with a pivoted locking lever 46 adapted to bear against a locking surface fil-7 on the projection 45 of the counterpart coupler and hold the "cou-.

piers securely clamped together in the coupled position.

For the'purpose of releasing the coupler locks fluid pressure means are provided, suchv as that set forth in the prior application of James S. Doyle and Frank l-ledley, filed March 2 1913, Serial No. 756,469, and comprising a cylinder 48 containing a piston 49 connected by a piston rod with an arm of the locking lever Li6. A spring 51 acts on th'e back of the piston 49 and tends to press the locking lever into engagement with the loching surface 47. l

ln order to release the coupler lock, fluid under pressure may be admitted to the face of the piston 49 througlr a passage 52, for actuating the piston to compress the spring 51 and thereby effect the release movement of the coupler locking lever.

According to my present invention, a pipe connects the passage 52 with chamber 5l at the back of piston 22. Normally closing a port through the piston 22 is a valve 55 carried by the rod-21 and on the horizontal lever arm of the trigger 19 is a hump or projection 56. A lug 57 carried by the Contact carrier 4 is arranged to engage the projection 56 upon movement of the carrier to normal release position. It will now be evident that when the contact carrier moves to release position, as shown in Fi g. 6 of the drawings, the trigger- 19 will be depressed by engagement of the lug 57 with the projection 56 and since the fluid under pressure admitted to the face of piston 22 has shifted the same to its rearmost position, the trigger 19 upon being depressed by the lug, 57, will throw the rod 21 outwardly and thereby lift the valve 55 from its seat, so that fluid under pressure can flow from the chamber 23 to the chamber 54 and thence through pipe 53 and passaffe 52 to lthe piston 49. As before stated, yfluid under pressure is supplied to the chamber 23 of cach 'of the counterpart couplings and consequently each release piston 49 of the counterpart car couplers will be operated by fluid pressure to release the coupler lock, so as to permit the separation of the cars.

When an electric coupling is not connected to a counterpart coupling, the tappet is moved outwardly by the spring 39 4and this relieves the valve 4() of spring pressure so' that the valve is free to open and vent-fluid to the atmosphere in case there should hap'- pen to be any leakage of fluid through the valve 26 or otherwise.

ln order to prevent entrance of dirt and moisture into the coupling, I preferably eniploy vertically swinging shutters T an 59 between which the contact carrier #i reciprocates. Said shutters are supported at their endsby the respective pairs of levers 60 and 61 pivoted to lugs 62 and 63 and on each lever is a projection 64 facing the contact carrier and adapted :when the contact carrier is in normal release position to engage within a recess 65. A spring 66 acts on each lill lever and tends to press the respective shutu Upon coupling up, one of the carriers is projected forward and the other is retracted and this movement. causes each projection (if to ride out .of its recess and therebyoperate the levers t() and (31 to raise the. shutters 58 and 5t) out of the patli ofl the contact cari'iers.

llaving now described my inventioinwhat l'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'. ist--v 1. ln an'electric train line coupling. the combination with a casingcontaining a plurality of' fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits and a movable contact carrier having coi'respoiiding con` tacts. of hand (bntrolled means t'or projecting said carrier to electrically connect the fixed contacts ot' counterpart couplings after engagement of said couplings.

2. In an electric train line coupling. the combination with a casing containiig a plurality of' fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits and a longitudiiially movable contact slide having cori'e.- Spending contacts, of fluid pressure operated means for projecting said slide to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpart couplings. and a manually operated element for controllingr the supply of fluid to said means. l

3. In an electric train line coupling. the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connectedy to train line circuits and a longitudinally movable contact slide having corresponding contacts, of means t'or projecting said slide to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpartl couplings and a locking device controlled by the movement of the slide for holding the. same in its projected position.

f. In an electric train line coupling. the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adaptedto be connectedto train line circuits and a longitudinally movable contact slide having corresponding contacts, of means t'or projecting said slide to electrically connect the fixed contacts of' counterpart couplings. a locking device f'or holding the slide in its projected position, and fluid pressure operated means f'or releasing said locking device.

5. ln an electric train line coupliiw. the.y

combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be coniiccted to train line circuits and a longitudinally movable contact slide having coi'respoiidiiig contacts. of fluid pressure means,

for projecting said slide to electrically connect the fixed contacts ot eounterj'iart couplings. 'a spring actuated lock for holding said slide in the projected position. a fluid,

pressure. operated means for releasing said lock. and manually operated means 'for controlling the fluid pressure for projecting the 'slide and for releasing said. lock.

6. In an electric train line coupling7 the combination with a casing containing a plurality of fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuitsl and a movable contact carrier havin;` corresponding con tacts. ofl fluid pressure operated means 'for projecting said carrier to electrically corncct the fixed contacts cfl counterpart couplings and a loch operating automatically after the outward movement ofl the contact carrier to hold said carrier in its projected position to thereby permit the release of fluid from said means without retracting the carrier.

T. In an electric train line coupling. the combination with a casing containing a plurality of `fixed contacts adapted to be connected to ti'aiii line circuits and a movable. contact carrier having corresponding contacts. of' means for projecting said carrier to electrically connect tll fixed contacts of counterpart couplings ani.y a sprino at each side of' the carrier. and arranged to resist the movement. thereofl in either direction from the intermediate normal position.

8. In an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casing containing a pliirality otl fixed contacts adapted to be con neet-ed to train line circuits and a movable contact carrier having corresponding contacts. of' mear for projecting said carrier 'to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpart couplings and a helical spring mounted at each side of'I said carrier and adapted to be compressed by the movement of the contact cari'ier in either direction trom the normal position.

tl. ln an electric train line coupling. the. combination with a casing containing a plus rality otl fixed contact-s adapted to be coniiected to train line circuits and a movable. contact carrier having corresponding com tacts. ot' means for projecting said cai'rier to electricallyl connect'. the fixed contacts of' counterpart coupiings. springs at both sides ofI said carrier. and followers at opposite ends of' said springs. and each adapted to be ,perated by the movement of' the carrier in either direction for compressingthe springs.

l0. Tn an electric train line coupling. the. combination with a casing containing a piurality ofE fixed contacts adapted to. be con nected to train line circuits and a movable slide having corresponding contacts. of a flliid operated piston for projecting said slide to electrically connect the fixed contacts of counterpart couplings. a spring vf'or opposing the projection ofl the slide` and a lock operating automatically after the outward movement of' said slide to hold the same in its projected position against the resista'nce of the spring.

ll. in an electric train line coupling. the combination with a casing containing a plulity of' fixed contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits and a` movable,

:monaca slid having corresponding contacts, of a fluid operated piston for projecting said slide to electrically connect the fixed con tacts of counterpart couplings, a spring for opposing the projection of the slide, a trigger for locking' the slide in its projected position, and a fluid operated piston lor tripping tlie trigger to ellect the retraction of the slidea l ln electric train line coupling, tbe combination. with a casing containing a plurality of lined contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits and movable slide l "ing corresponding contacts, oil a luid oi'ierated piston for projecting said slide to electrically connect the lined contacts ol counterpart couplings, a, spring ifor oppos ing the projection ol' tbe slide, a Atrigger for locking ille slide in its proiectedposition, a piston operated by fluid under pressure for tripping the trigger to permit the release of tlie slide, and a manually controlled cock 'for controlling' tbe fluid pressure on-said piston.

ill., ln an electric train line coupling, the comliinatio'n with a casing containing-a plurality olf lixed contacts adapted to Vbe con-1 nected to train line circuits and a movable carrier liaving corresponding contacts, of unions l'or projecting the carrier to electri cally connect the corresponding lined contacts of counterpart couplings, a fluid actuated loclt for holding the carrier in its proj ,ed position, means for automatically establishing communication between locks of counterpart couplings upon meeting of tlie couplings, and a manually operated valve Ylor controlling 'tbe lfluid pressure on said lock.

l-l. ""1 an electric train line coupling, tbe combination with a casing containing a plu-` rality of lined contacts adapted to be connected to train line circuits and a movable carrier having corresponding contacts, of means for projecting tbe car 'ier to electrically connect the corresponding lined conta of counterpart couplings, a locl Ylor liolfling the carrie-i.' in its projected position, a piston operated. by fluid pressure ttor tripping'said lock, a passage leading to said piston and adapted to register with a cui responding passage oi the counterpart coupling in. the act of coupling1 and a manually one ated valve lor controlling tbe admission of liuifl pressure to said piston.l

lit, Aln an electric train line coupling, the combination 'willi a casing containing a pluizl v ci fixed contacts adapted to be con ncctea lo train line circuits and a movable contact carrier 'caving corresponding con toets, oil means for proiccting said carrier lo elcfwirif'aily connect the fixed contacts of couplings, a lock for holding u; projected position, a piston operated by lluid lunder pressure lor releasing said lock, and means adapted to be manually actuated for also releasing said lock.

16. lin an electric train line coupling, the combination with a casing containing a plurality oi lined contacts adapted to be conn nected to train line circuits and a movable contact carrier having corresponding contacts, of a fluid operated piston for projccif' piston, and a movable tappet actuated upon tbe meeting of counterpart couplings for closing said valve.

1S. The combination with a car coupler comprising a coupler bead., a movable lock, and a liuid pressure actuated device for releasing the lock, of an electric train line coupling having a movable contact carrier adapted to be projected vfor electrically connecting the t-ain line circuits, a lock for holding said carrier in its projected position, a valve operated by said lock for controlling tlie fluid pressure on said releasing device, and means carried by said carrier for actuating tbc lock and said valve upon retraction of the carrier from its projected position. Y

19. The combination with a car coupler comprising a coupler head, a movable lock, and a fluid pressure actuated device Jfor rcleasing' tbe lock, ol' an electric train line coupling having a movable contact carrier adapted to be projected for electrically connecting the train line circuits, a lock :lor holding said carrier in its projected position, a valve operated by said lock for controlling the lluid pressure on said releasing device, and 'means carried by said carrier lon operating said lock to open said valve upon movement of tbe carrier from its pro jected position to the normal release posi tion.

lin testimony whereof l 'have hereunto set my hand.

THOMAS ll. llllUlVN., lllitnesees il. M. (Cummins, Si. lll. Kum-nn 

